Georgia World Congress Center – Experiences

If you’re attending an event at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, chances are you’ll only be in town for a couple of days. While that’s certainly not enough time to experience all that Atlanta has to offer, it’s enough time to at least get acquainted with this bustling Southern metropolis.

The Georgia World Congress Center is located smack dab in the middle of Downtown Atlanta, meaning that you’ll be in the vicinity of some of the city’s most popular attractions. Must-see tourist spots like the College Football Hall of Fame, World of Coca-Cola, and the CNN Center can be found just blocks away from the Georgia World Congress Center and the city’s extensive public transit network, MARTA, makes getting around a breeze.

This one-day travel guide is designed to help you get the most out of your visit to the Georgia World Congress Center and Downtown Atlanta, no matter how brief it may be. Whether you’ve got a full day to spare or only a couple hours of free time, there are plenty of things in Atlanta for you to see and do from sunrise to sunset.

Morning

A great way to start the day in Downtown Atlanta is with a walk around beautiful Centennial Olympic Park. It’s located adjacent to Building A of the Georgia World Congress Center and opens bright and early at 7 a.m., making it easy for early birds to squeeze in a stroll through the park before the rest of the day’s activities.

Spanning 21 acres, there’s points of interest aplenty on the premises of Centennial Olympic Park. Your first stop should be the Visitor Center situated at the south end of the park. There you can pick up a map that will make navigating the park’s many acres much easier.

For a more interactive experience, a self-guided audio walking tour is also available. Simply download the tour using your smartphone to learn about the park, the 1996 Summer Olympics, the city, and more, all at your own pace. The tour begins and ends at the park’s Visitor Center and takes about an hour to complete.

No visit to Centennial Olympic Park is complete without seeing the Fountain of Rings. As the centerpiece of Centennial Olympic Park, this fountain has become one of Atlanta’s most iconic landmarks. A free show featuring dazzling displays of water, music, and light takes place at the Fountain of Rings every day at 12:30, 3:30, 6:30, and 9:00 p.m., so those traveling with kids might want to stop by later on in the day instead.

You’ll probably work up quite the appetite after all that walking. Lucky for you, Atlanta Breakfast Club is located just a few blocks beyond the park’s north end. Specializing in real-deal, down-home, Southern-style cooking, a meal at Atlanta Breakfast Club is sure to satisfy your soul food cravings.

On the menu at Atlanta Breakfast Club you’ll find Southern-inspired takes on breakfast classics, such as peach cobbler French toast and Eggs Benedict doused with gravy atop two buttermilk biscuits. Don’t let the name fool you though; Atlanta Breakfast Club is also open for lunch. Lunchtime favorites include seafood gumbo, a shrimp po’ boy, and of course, fried chicken.

Noon

After breakfast, continue your Atlanta adventure at the College Football Hall of Fame or World of Coca-Cola, two of the city’s most popular attractions. Both are conveniently located less than a mile from the Georgia World Congress Center. Whichever attraction you choose to visit, fun awaits.

The College Football Hall of Fame takes visitors on journey through all of the pivotal, game-changing moments in college football history. Simply put, it’s a sports fan’s paradise. With three floors and more than 50 exhibits, a visit to the College Football Hall of Fame can encompass a whole afternoon and then some. Don’t miss one-of-a-kind experiences like the 45-yard Indoor Playing Field and the actual Hall of Fame located on the top floor.

If football isn’t your thing, consider quenching your thirst for fun at World of Coca-Cola instead. There you can learn all about one of the world’s most beloved beverage companies, from its storied Atlanta roots to the legendary 130-year-old secret formula for its namesake soda. Popular exhibits include Bottle Works, which demonstrates how Coke makes its way into those iconic glass bottles, and Taste It!, where you can sample more than 100 beverages from all around the world.

Although you might be staying it Atlanta for only a day or two during your visit to the Georgia World Congress Center, it’s still worth mentioning that admission to the College Football Hall of Fame and World of Coca-Coca are both included with an Atlanta CityPASS, along with other popular attractions like the Georgia Aquarium and Zoo Atlanta.

With CityPASS, you can visit five of Atlanta’s top attractions for one low price. If you plan on spending more than just a couple of days in Atlanta, there’s no better way to save money while seeing the sights. CityPASS also saves you time, since you won’t be stuck waiting in line to buy a ticket at each attraction.

Another attraction affiliated with CityPASS is CNN Studio Tours offered at CNN Center, which should be your next stop after visiting the College Football Hall of Fame or World of Coca-Cola. Enjoy a quick lunch in the food court, which includes plenty of options like Arby’s, Chick-fil-A, Subway, and Taco Bell, or dine in style at one of CNN Center’s two full-service restaurants, Dantanna’s and McCormick & Schmick’s.

Foodie’s looking for something more unique than your standard food court fare can grab a bite to eat down the street from CNN Center at Just Around the Corner. A no-frills, hole-in-the-wall-type burger joint, Just Around the Corner has become an Atlanta institution in its own right. In addition to their mouthwatering burgers, Just Around the Corner also serves hot dogs, subs, wings, and more.

After lunch, take a tour of CNN Center. You’ll get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the network’s world headquarters and learn how CNN became the “most trusted name in news.” The tour is guided and takes approximately 50 minutes. A VIP Tour experience is also available. For an additional fee, you’ll also gain access to live newsrooms, the HLN control room, and more.

Night

As the day begins to wind down, go for a ride on SkyView Atlanta. If you think you’ll need directions to get there, you won’t. Standing nearly 20 stories tall in the heart of Downtown just a few blocks from the Georgia World Congress Center, this world-class Ferris wheel is impossible to miss.

SkyView Atlanta sends riders soaring over the city in one of 42 luxurious, climate-controlled gondolas. The ride lasts about 20 minutes, giving you plenty of time to appreciate the breathtaking panoramic views of Atlanta at night. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Fountain of Rings. If you thought it was impressive during the daytime, just wait until you see what it looks like once the sun goes down. A VIP gondola equipped with Ferrari-style seats and a glass floor is also available by reservation only.

If you prefer your views to be a bit more stationary, SkyLounge is another great option for a nighttime outing. Raved about by locals and tourists alike, SkyLounge is a sleek rooftop venue located atop the Glenn Hotel in Downtown Atlanta. Sit back and sip on one of their delicious handcrafted cocktails as you enjoy the views of Atlanta from 70 floors up.

After you’ve spent some time in the sky, come back down to Earth for dinner. There’s a variety of dining options in the vicinity of the Georgia World Congress Center, so finding somewhere to eat that suits your tastes should come easy.

For a more casual dining experience, you can’t go wrong with Twin Smokers BBQ or STATS Brewpub. Like their name suggests, Twin Smokers BBQ specializes in delicious barbecue done right. This is the South, after all. On the menu you’ll find everything from brisket and ribs smoked low and slow to savory sides like coleslaw, collard greens, and potato salad.

STATS Brewpub is a laidback watering hole serving up classic bar fare with a twist, like crispy pork ribs smothered in a sweet and spicy sesame sauce and a fried chicken sandwich topped with vinegar slaw and spicy mayo, known as the Dirty Bird. For more health-conscious diners, STATS Brewpub also offers salads and light sides like olive and vegetable farro.

Having trouble deciding which of these two restaurants you’d rather go to? You’ll be glad to know that they’re practically right next door to each other. That means you can sample real-deal Southern barbecue at Twin Smokers BBQ, then wash it all down with a cold one at STATS Brewpub. You’d be hard-pressed to try to find a more perfect way to end your big day out in Atlanta.